Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Higher Taxes Necessary in our State?
Washington gov. leaves door open for higher taxes
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday she would consider tax increases as officials run out of ways to fix the state's recession-hammered budget.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday she would consider tax increases as officials run out of ways to fix the state's recession-hammered budget.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Beating of Derrion Albert Is Must-See TV
A story about the tragic result of violence.From TheRoot.com:
Three Charged with Murder in Death of Derrion Albert
The Beating of Derrion Albert Is Must-See TV
Violation of Privacy Rights?
How much information about you should businesses and advertisers be able to collect when you go online?
Advertising - Two-Thirds of Americans Object to Online Tracking, Study Says - NYTimes.com
Advertising - Two-Thirds of Americans Object to Online Tracking, Study Says - NYTimes.com
What is up with Iran and Nuclear Weapons?
The U.S. believes the government of Iran is trying to enrich uranium for the purposes of building nuclear weapons, and is developing missile technology to deliver those weapons across the Middle East.
Iran claims they are only developing the technology and materials for peaceful nuclear energy.
A Nuclear Debate - Is Iran Designing Warheads? - NYTimes.com
What can the United States do about it?
White House to Go After Iran's Oil Income
Obama Administration to Push for Tough New Economic Sanctions if Iran Doesn't Come Clean on Nuclear Plans
A CBS news story:
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Iran claims they are only developing the technology and materials for peaceful nuclear energy.
A Nuclear Debate - Is Iran Designing Warheads? - NYTimes.com
What can the United States do about it?
White House to Go After Iran's Oil Income
Obama Administration to Push for Tough New Economic Sanctions if Iran Doesn't Come Clean on Nuclear Plans
A CBS news story:
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Are British Gettring Ready to Dump Their Prime Minister?
The British system is different from that of the U.S., but it is similar in that the people seem ready to vote against a political party that has been in power during bad economic times - especially when that party has been in power for a long time.
In Free Fall, British Leader, Brown, Tries to Rally Labour - NYTimes.com
In Free Fall, British Leader, Brown, Tries to Rally Labour - NYTimes.com
Obama and Afghanistan
A story on NPR lays out the dilemma for the U.S. (and President Obama) in Afghanistan.
A Turning Point for Afghan War, and Obama
A Turning Point for Afghan War, and Obama
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Glenn Beck speaks to 7,000 at Seattle
I have to admit I haven't watched or listened to that much of Glenn Beck. But with all the publicity he has received lately, I've become more aware of both the style and substance of his politics.
Local News | Beck speaks to 7,000 at Seattle: 'The American people have not surrendered' | Seattle Times Newspaper
What really gets me about some of the commentators like Glenn Beck is that only 9 months into the Obama administration, they are ranting and raving about the American people losing their country to the monstrous liberal policies of the Obama administration.
There is one very important logical flaw in all that lies behind all that flows from Beck's exhortations to "take back America" and that is that the American people, after the longest campaign in history, elected Barack Obama president by a very wide margin.
Obama was clear about the direction in which he would lead America: out of Iraq, toward universal health insurance coverage, greater regulation of business that emit carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming, and toward greater regulation of Wall Street financial institutions that recklessly drove our economy off a cliff into a recession.
If Obama's agenda is enacted, that simply means that representative democracy still works in America. If Glenn Beck has a problem with fair elections, representative democracy that carries out the will of the people, and a president trying to enact the program he ran on, then I think he and other like him, need to come to grips with what living in a republic is all about - sometimes you lose elections, because the old ideas and ways of doing things were rejected by the people.
Local News | Beck speaks to 7,000 at Seattle: 'The American people have not surrendered' | Seattle Times Newspaper
What really gets me about some of the commentators like Glenn Beck is that only 9 months into the Obama administration, they are ranting and raving about the American people losing their country to the monstrous liberal policies of the Obama administration.
There is one very important logical flaw in all that lies behind all that flows from Beck's exhortations to "take back America" and that is that the American people, after the longest campaign in history, elected Barack Obama president by a very wide margin.
Obama was clear about the direction in which he would lead America: out of Iraq, toward universal health insurance coverage, greater regulation of business that emit carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming, and toward greater regulation of Wall Street financial institutions that recklessly drove our economy off a cliff into a recession.
If Obama's agenda is enacted, that simply means that representative democracy still works in America. If Glenn Beck has a problem with fair elections, representative democracy that carries out the will of the people, and a president trying to enact the program he ran on, then I think he and other like him, need to come to grips with what living in a republic is all about - sometimes you lose elections, because the old ideas and ways of doing things were rejected by the people.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?
Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?
I want to say yes, but I think the question should be "Are people who listen to Glenn Beck uncritically bad for America?"
The answer is an emphatic yes.
I want to say yes, but I think the question should be "Are people who listen to Glenn Beck uncritically bad for America?"
The answer is an emphatic yes.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government
Once again, this is a debate that we have had in America for well over 200 years - how much power, authority, and responsibility should the federal government have?
Today, thousands of conservatives who feel that Obama and Democrats in Congress want to create to much government involvement in the economy, health care, etc. exercised their First Amendment rights by marching on D.C.
Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government - NYTimes.com
Today, thousands of conservatives who feel that Obama and Democrats in Congress want to create to much government involvement in the economy, health care, etc. exercised their First Amendment rights by marching on D.C.
Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government - NYTimes.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Obama's Speech on Health Care Reform
I thought, as usual, Obama did a great job in delivering the speech, and in the second half of the speech got back to speaking with passion about the need for change in American health care. (I think he has been too dispassionate in recent months to rally people around his cause.)
It was weird that at one point during the speech a Republican member of Congress lost it and yelled out "You lie!" (Article here; clip from speech here.)
The last part of the speech is something I'd like us to watch together at some point, because he talked about the importance of liberalism and conservatism in the American tradition of political thought. While he favors the liberal or progressive impulses toward government, he recognized that the debate between the two sides goes way back (to Jefferson and Hamilton) and often results in common-sense compromise. (See commentary on RealClearPolitics.)
Read about the speech here: Obama's Plea: 'Deliver On Health Care' : NPR
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Controversy over Obama speech to students
I find the whole idea of people objecting to the President speaking to kids and encouraging them to make the most of their education absolutely ridiculous. It would be funny if it weren't an indication of how rabid politics has become.
Politics | Analysis: Furor over speech typifies polarization | Seattle Times Newspaper
However, all of this is not new: There was opposition from conservatives from the time the federal government created the Department of Education in the 1960's. Many of them believed that it was unreasonable for the federal government to become more involved in public education, which is primarily the province of state and local governments. The following article gives you some background on political battles conservatives have waged over federal policy on public education.
The history behind opposition to Obama’s speech to students | csmonitor.com
Politics | Analysis: Furor over speech typifies polarization | Seattle Times Newspaper
However, all of this is not new: There was opposition from conservatives from the time the federal government created the Department of Education in the 1960's. Many of them believed that it was unreasonable for the federal government to become more involved in public education, which is primarily the province of state and local governments. The following article gives you some background on political battles conservatives have waged over federal policy on public education.
The history behind opposition to Obama’s speech to students | csmonitor.com
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
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